Hi Greg. Thank you for this analysis. You'll be pleased to know that Yuri Shvets pretty much agrees with you. He now has his own YouTube channel, where he posts videos analyzing the current situation, albeit only in Russian.
In yesterday's interview on another channel called Rashkin Report, Yuri said that he sees Russia barrelling towards its existential end as a state and maybe people in the White House see it as well and don't want to interfere. Left to themselves, they will simply self-destruct the way USSR self-destructed 30 years ago.
" 'You better back the fuck up before you get smacked the fuck up.' Messages of that nature are most effectively delivered in person." HEAR! HEAR! I completely agree with you Greg! Thank you for the clear analysis, the refutation of the naysayers, and the convincing conclusion: America has the "weapons" to stop Russia's infiltration and destruction of America, and Biden knows how to use them. Message Delivered!
Something I found interesting about this meeting was also the way it was scheduled. In the past, apparently Putin has consistently kept the other side waiting--Trump waited for an hour, evidently--while he sauntered in fashionably late. When the meeting was set up, it was supposed to start at 1:00 and Putin showed up at 1:03. Biden showed up at 1:18 (I have read/heard it was later than that, but looking at the USA Today website for clarification). That apparently pissed Putin off, as he was pouty and sullen from the start. Here's the report from USA Today:
"Putin has made a practice of arriving late for meetings, a power play meant to keep his adversaries on edge. He kept then-President Donald Trump waiting for nearly an hour at their summit in Helsinki in 2018. Others who’ve had to endure Putin’s tardy gamesmanship include German Chancellor Angela Merkel (four hours), former Secretary of State John Kerry (three hours), Pope Francis (50 minutes) and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth (14 minutes).
This time, though, Putin was punctual. He showed up on schedule, at 1:03 p.m. local time. Biden came a few minutes later – the arrival times had been agreed upon in advance – at 1:18 p.m. local time. The two men separately entered the 18th century villa where the talks were to take place but came back out a few minutes later with Guy Parmelin, president of the Swiss confederation, who wished them a “fruitful” dialogue." https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/06/16/geneva-summit-5-takeaways-biden-putins-person-meeting/7698801002/
Even if the time had been agreed-upon before the meeting, this is a totally different approach--a little taste of his own medicine moment. Putin apparently wanted this meeting in order to present himself as a strongman. Instead, he had to sit on his arse and wait for Biden to show up.
As always, you made me feel better about an event that had received so much negative response that it seemed like a resounding defeat. According to the press and the Republicans, everything Biden does is wrong, misguided, or weak. I know differently, and you do, too. Thanks for spelling it out so clearly--and with musical references unknown to me! I'm old school. I would have quoted Tony Soprano: “Those who want respect give respect.”
Your comment about the "dumb question" really hit a nerve. That truly WAS a dumb question and IMO typical of Kaitlan Collins. She is always, always twisting words and trying to MAKE news and draw attention to herself. I do not consider her AT ALL to be a bonafide "reporter." I think she belongs on faux noise, where she can fawn at the cameras and make up stuff.
And as far as a face to face, for all his "nice" mien, I would not for one second relish being in a face to face with Joe Biden if I were in Putin's shoes, knowing that Biden literally has all the cards in his deck and that Putin does not. I'm thinking of our nation's wealth, military, economy, etc. All Putin has is a stranglehold on oil and oligarchs and mafia thugs who plunder and murder his citizens - and they don't even LIKE him. So, there he was, a little man, disliked and alone at the top of his heap, being faced down by a man with superior skills and intellect, one with grit and the power to back it up and the willingness to do whatever it takes for his country. Nope. That would not be a face to face I would enjoy were I Putin!
As someone who has to negotiate for a living, I agree with Biden that there is no substitute for face-to-face communication. However, I wish he would not have shaken his hand, nor given him gifts. I do not agree with Kasparov that Biden undermined our allies - I believe the opposite - Biden was there to stand up for not only us, but our allies as well. I believe Putin is a sociopath, and you deal with a sociopath by letting them know the party's over. Once they see there is nothing left for them to get from you, there's a good chance they'll leave you alone. I agree with you, Greg - sit him down and tell him to his face "I'm not fucking around - stay out of our shit, or I'll destroy you." You can't get that message across through intermediaries. Putin needed to see it in Biden's eyes.
I always sooo appreciate your "optimistic" view of what I might call the "dismal state of our world", Greg Olear. Thank you. Thank you.
Hi Greg. Thank you for this analysis. You'll be pleased to know that Yuri Shvets pretty much agrees with you. He now has his own YouTube channel, where he posts videos analyzing the current situation, albeit only in Russian.
In yesterday's interview on another channel called Rashkin Report, Yuri said that he sees Russia barrelling towards its existential end as a state and maybe people in the White House see it as well and don't want to interfere. Left to themselves, they will simply self-destruct the way USSR self-destructed 30 years ago.
" 'You better back the fuck up before you get smacked the fuck up.' Messages of that nature are most effectively delivered in person." HEAR! HEAR! I completely agree with you Greg! Thank you for the clear analysis, the refutation of the naysayers, and the convincing conclusion: America has the "weapons" to stop Russia's infiltration and destruction of America, and Biden knows how to use them. Message Delivered!
Something I found interesting about this meeting was also the way it was scheduled. In the past, apparently Putin has consistently kept the other side waiting--Trump waited for an hour, evidently--while he sauntered in fashionably late. When the meeting was set up, it was supposed to start at 1:00 and Putin showed up at 1:03. Biden showed up at 1:18 (I have read/heard it was later than that, but looking at the USA Today website for clarification). That apparently pissed Putin off, as he was pouty and sullen from the start. Here's the report from USA Today:
"Putin has made a practice of arriving late for meetings, a power play meant to keep his adversaries on edge. He kept then-President Donald Trump waiting for nearly an hour at their summit in Helsinki in 2018. Others who’ve had to endure Putin’s tardy gamesmanship include German Chancellor Angela Merkel (four hours), former Secretary of State John Kerry (three hours), Pope Francis (50 minutes) and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth (14 minutes).
This time, though, Putin was punctual. He showed up on schedule, at 1:03 p.m. local time. Biden came a few minutes later – the arrival times had been agreed upon in advance – at 1:18 p.m. local time. The two men separately entered the 18th century villa where the talks were to take place but came back out a few minutes later with Guy Parmelin, president of the Swiss confederation, who wished them a “fruitful” dialogue." https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/06/16/geneva-summit-5-takeaways-biden-putins-person-meeting/7698801002/
Even if the time had been agreed-upon before the meeting, this is a totally different approach--a little taste of his own medicine moment. Putin apparently wanted this meeting in order to present himself as a strongman. Instead, he had to sit on his arse and wait for Biden to show up.
I’m a sucker for anything that quotes Tupac! Excellent piece, Greg.
As always, you made me feel better about an event that had received so much negative response that it seemed like a resounding defeat. According to the press and the Republicans, everything Biden does is wrong, misguided, or weak. I know differently, and you do, too. Thanks for spelling it out so clearly--and with musical references unknown to me! I'm old school. I would have quoted Tony Soprano: “Those who want respect give respect.”
Your comment about the "dumb question" really hit a nerve. That truly WAS a dumb question and IMO typical of Kaitlan Collins. She is always, always twisting words and trying to MAKE news and draw attention to herself. I do not consider her AT ALL to be a bonafide "reporter." I think she belongs on faux noise, where she can fawn at the cameras and make up stuff.
And as far as a face to face, for all his "nice" mien, I would not for one second relish being in a face to face with Joe Biden if I were in Putin's shoes, knowing that Biden literally has all the cards in his deck and that Putin does not. I'm thinking of our nation's wealth, military, economy, etc. All Putin has is a stranglehold on oil and oligarchs and mafia thugs who plunder and murder his citizens - and they don't even LIKE him. So, there he was, a little man, disliked and alone at the top of his heap, being faced down by a man with superior skills and intellect, one with grit and the power to back it up and the willingness to do whatever it takes for his country. Nope. That would not be a face to face I would enjoy were I Putin!
Greg Olear, My Man, you are my go-to news source for everything Russia.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Vlad isn't winning -- good analysis 👍
As someone who has to negotiate for a living, I agree with Biden that there is no substitute for face-to-face communication. However, I wish he would not have shaken his hand, nor given him gifts. I do not agree with Kasparov that Biden undermined our allies - I believe the opposite - Biden was there to stand up for not only us, but our allies as well. I believe Putin is a sociopath, and you deal with a sociopath by letting them know the party's over. Once they see there is nothing left for them to get from you, there's a good chance they'll leave you alone. I agree with you, Greg - sit him down and tell him to his face "I'm not fucking around - stay out of our shit, or I'll destroy you." You can't get that message across through intermediaries. Putin needed to see it in Biden's eyes.